Spring Semester (A181): 12 weeks

Volunteer Position Description

Community members serve as after-school program volunteers at Patterson High School and assist 13-20 year-old students with homework assignments, school projects, basic skills, English practice, and more. Tutors work one-on-one with students or manage small groups based on subject matter (e.g. math, history, science, reading).

Approximately 15-30 students attend RYP each day. Many students are brand new to the US; others have been here for longer. Your role as a volunteer may be different depending on the composition of students that attend programming. A typical day at RYP includes announcements/attendance and a group icebreaker followed by tutoring. Students receive safe transportation home on an RYP-provided school bus at the end of the day.

After-school program volunteers help in a classroom setting. All tutors are supervised by a certified ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) teacher from Baltimore City Public Schools while on site.

Assist refugee students with homework, school projects, study skills, class review, and other assignments as necessary

Practice English with students; mentor and motivate youth towards self-sufficiency

Serve as positive role models and build meaningful relationships with students

Work with BCCC staff, volunteers, and school personnel to accomplish program objectives

Other related duties as assigned

Reliable, open-minded, flexible, proactive, and patient

Willing to learn about resettlement and refugee issues

Willing to learn about cross-cultural communication and ethnic backgrounds of clients

Commitment to working with youth

Ability to communicate clearly and effectively in English

Ability to speak Arabic, Tigrinya, Kinyarwanda, Nepali, or Swahili is a bonus!

Must submit a volunteer application form to RYP and complete DHHS Volunteer Application forms

Must be fingerprinted through Baltimore City Public Schools Office of Human Resources (free)

Must attend an orientation date (for all new volunteers)

Must commit to volunteering 2 hours per week for at least one semester

Must register for a non-credit course as part of BCCC at your initial orientation (see below)

About Volunteer Participation in BCCC’s Non-Credit Courses

The Refugee Youth Project is part of Baltimore City Community College’s Workforce Development and Continuing Education Division. To participate in RYP’s programming, volunteers are required to enroll in a non-credit course by completing a “Non-Credit Registration & Add/Drop Form.” Non-credit course grades are determined by volunteer attendance. “S” grades are given for 70% attendance and above, and “U” grades will be given for less than 69% attendance. Ongoing participation for volunteers who have less than 49% attendance will be discussed between the RYP Coordinator, RYP Site Coordinator, RYP Volunteer Specialist, the partner coordinating volunteers (if applicable), and or the volunteer him/herself.

RYP will confirm your placement/day and sign you up for one on-site orientation

Step TWO: Get a Baltimore City Public Schools volunteer background check (free of charge)

RYP’s Volunteer Specialist will forward these documents to Nancy Gallo, Assistant to the Principal at Patterson, to initiate the background check process for Baltimore City Public Schools.

Once Ms. Gallo processes your paperwork, you will receive a background check authorization form that verifies that you can be fingerprinted at Baltimore City Public Schools’ Central Office.

Take the Background Check Authorization Form with you to the BCPS Central Office (they do not take reservations but please call ahead for hours).

200 E North Ave

Room 120

Baltimore, MD 21215

410-396-8885

Email RYP again when you have completed these steps. You should receive the results of your background check in the mail. You are not allowed to volunteer unless you have completed this step – get it done ASAP!

Scan/return PHS’ forms via email to Brett and Isabelle, along with a picture or scan of your Driver’s License, State ID, or student ID.

Your service coordinators will forward your information to RYP and confirm your placement/day and sign you up for an orientation, pending space availability and needs.

Step THREE: Get a Baltimore City Public Schools volunteer background check (free of charge)

RYP’s Volunteer Specialist will forward the above documents to Nancy Gallo, Assistant to the Principal at Patterson, to initiate the background check process for Baltimore City Public Schools. Once Ms. Gallo processes your paperwork, you will receive a background check authorization form that verifies that you can be fingerprinted at Baltimore City Public Schools’ Central Office.

Contact Brett and Isabelle to coordinate a day to visit Baltimore City Schools and be fingerprinted.

Take the Background Check Authorization Form with you to the BCPS Central Office (they do not take reservations but please call ahead for hours).

Scan/return PHS’ forms documents via email to brittany@refugeeyouthproject.org and elgrose1@umbc.edu, along with a picture or scan of your Driver’s License, State ID, or student ID.

RYP/UMBC will confirm your placement/day and sign you up for an on-site orientation before program begins, pending space availability and needs

Step THREE: Get a Baltimore City Public Schools volunteer background check (free of charge)

RYP’s Volunteer Specialist will forward your ID documents to Nancy Gallo, Assistant to the Principal at Patterson, to initiate the background check process for Baltimore City Public Schools.

Once Ms. Gallo processes your paperwork, you will receive a background check authorization form that verifies that you can be fingerprinted at Baltimore City Public Schools’ Central Office.

Take the Background Check Authorization Form with you to the BCPS Central Office (they do not take reservations but please call ahead for hours).

200 E North Ave

Room 120

Baltimore, MD 21215

410-396-8885

Email RYP/UMBC again when you have completed these steps. You should receive the results of your background check in the mail. You are not allowed to volunteer unless you have completed this step – get it done ASAP!

BCCC + RYP

The BCCC Refugee Youth Project is fully grant-funded by the Office of Refugee Resettlement’s School Impact Grant. This grant is distributed and monitored by the Maryland Office for Refugees and Asylees.